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What Uber and School Choice Have in Common

As Ted Forstmann used to tell me, 'Monopolies invariably produce bad products at high prices.'

By

James C. Courtovich

Sept. 28, 2014 6:57 p.m. ET

When President Lyndon Johnson announced the creation of the Transportation Department 48 years ago this month, he said that one of the agency's goals would be to "bring new technology to every mode of transportation." Nearly half a century later, Uber is doing just that, allowing customers to order and pay for trips on their smartphone. Satisfied passengers, drivers and investors are singing Uber's tagline: Choice is a Beautiful Thing.

But choice threatens entrenched interests like cabdrivers, who are deploying intimidation...